A Florida court has made a significant decision in the legal dispute between Tiger Woods and his ex-girlfriend Erica Herman.
The court denied Herman's request to void a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that forced her to arbitrate allegations against the professional golfer.
Florida's 19th Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Metzger called Herman's NDA invalidity allegations "implausibly pled," CNN reported.
With this decision, the arbitration shall continue in private, per the terms of the agreement. Herman's attorneys said that Tiger Woods had sexually harassed her and forced her to sign the NDA under threat of termination.
Herman argued that the arbitration agreement should be unlawful because of recent federal legislation that permits this in situations of sexual misconduct. Herman's accusations of sexual assault and harassment were unsubstantiated, according to Judge Metzger.
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In response to the accusations, Tiger Woods' legal team called Herman's assertions "implausible" in a court document. They maintained that her charges did not meet the federal, tribal, or state sexual harassment requirements.
Tiger Woods Legal Team Wants Arbitration on Litigation
Tiger Woods contends that Herman's claims should not be heard in court and has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. The NDA requires confidential, binding arbitration to settle all disputes and claims.
Herman's sexual harassment case against Tiger Woods has been settled, but she is still pursuing legal action against the trust, Sportico reported.
As per their NDA, Woods' lawyers contend that the litigation should also be arbitrated. The next step will be decided by Judge Metzger, who oversees both cases.
Tiger Woods and Herman first came to the public's attention when the golf icon competed in the Presidents Cup in September 2017, per CBS Sports.
Since then, she has been present for many of the pivotal events in Tiger Woods's career, including his 2019 Masters triumph and the Presidential Medal of Freedom presentation the year before.
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